Liquid dispensing apparatus



Jan. 31 1967 TE. 1. BROCK 3,301,486

' LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1965 INVENTOR. E DWA RD l. B ROCK BYZflM F IG, 2 ATTORNEYS Edd-1,48% Patented Jan. 31, 1967 United States Patent Ofiice LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Edward I. Brock, Sherman Gairs, Calif assignor to Brockstone Chemical Co., Northridgc, Califi, a partnership Filed Dec. 5, 1963, Ser. No.328,219

2' Claims. (Cl. 239-70) This invention generally relates to liquid dispensing apparatus and more particularly concerns an improved device for spraying liquid into an enclosure on a timed basis.

In the particular embodiment to be hereafter described, the apparatus is disclosed as being used in an application in which a controlled, timed sprayis injected into a tumbler wherein the dry cleaning of clothes is taking place. The spray may be a chemicalsolution for diminishing the effects of static electricity, it may be a dye solution, or it may be: any type of additive required or desired in a dry cleaning operation. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the liquid spray dispensing apparatus of the present invention is susceptible of a variety of diverse applications in other fields in which timed dispensing of liquids is required. i

The presentapplication is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Serial Number 249,637, filed January 7, 1963, now US. Patent No. 3,172,604, and entitled Timed Spray Unit. In the latter application, applicant disclosed atimed spray unit wherein an integral timing structure is employed which includes both a liquid passage and air passage therein whereby compressed air or high velocity steam is used to draw in a chemical liquid and discharge the resultant mixture into a dry cleaning clothes tumble-r.

' The present invention embodies two basic changesrelative to the construction of the prior application. In the present invention, instead of having an integral construction, the compressed air is passed through one valve with a timed controlled mechanism, while the'liquid is drawn in through another valve unit. This modified construction enables more precise volume control and creates certain inherent safety advantages. Also, the modified construction forming a part of the present invention enables more ready maintenance and longer life to certain of the parts.

A further feature relating to the modification of the present invention concerns providing an improved more simplified construction for actuating the valve mechanism interconnected between the timer and the compressed air line.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary purpose of the present invention to provide an improved liquid dispensing unit, which is designed to dispense liquid on a timed basis wherein a minimum number of mechanical elements are required to achieve a positive operating unit with a rugged construction.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquid dispensing unit in which the chemicals employed may be directed through a separate mechanism apart from the timing unit, thereby eliminating the possibility of corrosion or other damage to the timing unit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved structural combination for a liquid dispensing apparatus which may be conveniently assembled and dis-assembled, and which may be maintained and repaired by unskilled workmen.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally achieved by providing an apparatus for discharging or dispensing a liquid spray into a tumbling enclosure during a clothes drying operation, which apparatus comprises a supply of compressed air or other pressurized fluid, a nozzle means, and a line connecting from the supply of compressed air to the nozzle means. A valve means is'interposed in the compressed air line, and timing means are coupled to the valve means for actuating the valve means according to a given setting of the timing means. In this regard, means are provided which are responsive to the timing means to mechanically or electrically actuate the valve means. A

A source of liquid chemical is provided, and a line connects with the source of liquid chemical to the nozzle means such that opening of the compressed air line to the nozzle means will draw the liquid chemical into the nozzle means. The nozzle means, in turn, is mounted so as to direct the liquid into the tumbling enclosure.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing merely illustrative embodiments, and which:

FIGURE 1 is a view ofthe liquid dispensing unit of the present invention, particularly in schematic form, indicating the combination and inner-relationship of the components of the improved liquiddispensing unit; and,

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation disclosing a liquid dispensing unit according to the present invention relating to the same apparatus of FIGURE 1, except showing the valve structure as being electrically operated.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in H6- URE 1 a timer unit 10 which has coupled thereto a valve means 11. A source of compressed air or other pressurized fluid is indicated at 1.2 as leading into a pressure regulator 13 and thereafter through a line 14 to the valve unit 11.

The other side of the valve unit 11 connects with a conduit 15 communicating with a nozzle means 16 embodying a venturi valve structure that will be described hereafter in the specification. The nozzle means 16 communicates with a container or bottle 17' of the particular chemical to be injected, through a conduit 18.

Considering the overall combination in somewhat greater detail, it will be noted that the conduit 14 is connected to the valve 11 through a threaded fitting 19. An annular passage 2i) enables the compressed air to pass through the conduit 14, the fitting 19, and thereafter into the conduit 15 assuming the valve structure is open; The line 15 is also connected by a fitting 21 to the valve unit 11.'

The valve structure and timing mechanism as such may now be described. As clearly seen in FIGURE 1, a valve rod 22 has connected thereto at one end a valve member 23 which is'biased towards a seated closed position by a spring member 24.

At its opposite end, the valve rod 22 is provided with a looped portion or eye 25 which receives a cam follower rod 26, extending upwardly through the paper as viewed in FIGURE 1. The rod 2 6 is rigidly secured to an arm 27 which forms a link pivotably mounted at 28 to the timer unit 10.

The cam follower rod 26 is designed to engage the periphery of a cam member 29 actuated by the timer 10 and to maintain the valve 23 in an open position until such time as the cam 29 rotates to a position wherein a notch 30, provided in the periphery thereof, is aligned with the cam rod 26. At this point, the rod 25 will move to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, whereby the rod 22 and coupled valve 23 will be actuated to a position such that the valve 23 closes oif the passage 20 and prevents air from passing through the valve unit 11 into the conduit 15.

As an important part of the present invention, it is to be noted that the timer structure 10 is mounted in such a direction that the axis of rotation for the cam member 29 is at right angles to the valve rod 22 whereby the c) simple mechanical connection illustrated may be employed. Such a construction contrasts the mechanical arrangement used in the aforementioned prior application wherein the timer structure is mounted in line with the valve rod and additional further linkages are thus required. Thus, the housing 31 for the timer is at right angles relative to the timer housing of the prior application.

The conduit has its other end connecting through a fitting 32 into the nozzle member 16. The nozzle member 1 6 embodies therein an insert 33 having a reduced diameter outlet portion 34 functioning as a venturi to create a low pressure area as the compressed air or high velocity steam is passed through the conduit 15, through the insert 33, and thereafter out through the reduced diameter end portion 34 thereof.

Once leaving the outlet 34, the air or high velocity steam passes into a discharge passage fitting 35 and thereafter into a tumbling enclosure or other location where the fluid is to be employed.

As indicated, the nozzle member 16 is readily mounted into a wall structure 36 forming a part of the tumbling enclosure such as that described in the previously referred to cop-ending application. The discharge fitting 35 of the nozzle 16 may be held in the wall structure by a nut member 37.

The operation of the improved fluid dispensing apparatus of the present invention will be obvious from the aforementioned description, although certain features are believed desirable to be emphasized.

The regulator 13 enables the operator to precisely adjust the degree of pressure desired so far as the compressed air or high velocity steam is concerned. In turn, the fine spray or mist created at the discharge fitting 35 may be varied and also the volume of. fluid inject-ed may be adjusted according to the pressure used.

Also, as heretofore pointed out, the particular disposition of the timing unit 10 relative to the valve mechanism 11 enables a simplified mechanical structure to be employed such that the movement of the timing unit almost directly actuates the valve mechanism.

By providing the fluid chemical 17 from a different location, it will be seen that the chemical only flows through the nozzle member 16 such that it has no possibility of contacting or adversely affecting in any way any mechanism that may be employed in conjunction with the timing unit 10 and valve unit 11. The chemical .17 preferably passed through a fitting 38 embodying a check valve 39 thereby preventing the possibility of any reverse flow of liquid or liquid/air mixture or the like.

With such a construction, it will also be evident that various of the components may be readily maintained and replaced if desired without dismantling the entire assembly. Thus, if the particular liquid chemical used is of the corrosive type, such that the check valve 39 is damaged in any way, it may be readily replaced by disconnecting the conduit 18 from the fitting 3 8 as required without the necessity of disconnecting or replacing other parts of the system.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown a modification of the improved fluid dispensing unit apparatus according to the present invention, as described in FIGURE 1.

Thus, there is shown in FIGURE 2 a source of air 40 which leads through a line 41, and pressure regulator 42 to a solenoid valve 43. The solenoid valve 43 has connected thereto leads 44 which connect with a timing unit 45, and thereafter. to a source of 110 volt A.C. current 46.

With such a construction, the timing unit 45 is actuated by a push but-ton or the like turning on or off the current through the timing unit, which in turn opens or closes the solenoid valve 43 and permits air to be drawn in through the line 41.

The remainder of the design may be exactly the same as shown in FIGURE 1 with a nozzle 47 (or venturi valve) being equivalent to the nozzle means 16 and conn-ected to a liquid supply 48 through a passage 49. A venturi valve or nozzle means 47 thereafter leads through a line 50 into the tumbling enclosure or other receptacle into which the liquid chemical is to be sprayed.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that certain modifications and changes may be made in the improved fiuid dispensing apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the impr-ovement embodied therein. Such changes and modifications are deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispensing apparatus for discharging a liquid spray into a tumbling enclosure during a clothes drying operation, said apparatus comprising: a source of compressed air; a nozzle means mounted on said enclosure; a fluid conduit connected between said source of compressed air and said nozzle means; valve means interposed in said fluid conduit; timing means mounted on said valve means; linkage means responsive to actuation of said timing means to open and close said valve means; a source of liquid chemical communicating with said nozzle means by meanso-f a separate conduit; and a check valve means interposed in said separate conduit.

.2. An improved fluid dispensing apparatus for discharging a liquid spray into a tumbling enclosure during a clothes drying operation, said apparatus comprising: a source of compressed air; nozzle means mounted on said enclosure for injecting said liquid spray therein; a fluid conduit communicating between said source of compressed air and said nozzle means; valve means interposed in said fluid conduit; timing means mounted on said valve means; linkage means responsive to actuation of said timing means to actuate the opening and closing of said valve means; a source of liquid chemical; another fiuid conduit communicating between said source of liquid chemical and said nozzle; venturi means in said nozzle designed to draw in said liquid chemical in response to compressed air flow therethrough; and spring biased check valve means posiitoned in said another fluid conduit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,664,803 4/1928 Agassiz 222193 1,873,398 8/1932 Hansen 239371 2,606,068 8/1952 Bonacor 2391 8 2,872,076 2/ 1959 Bloom 222- 2,891,406 6/1959 Stoner 137624.22 X 2,931,580 4/1960 Johnson 2393 69 X M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner.

J. D. HUSSER, R. S. STROB'EL, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING A LIQUID SPRAY INTO A TUMBLING ENCLOSURE DURING A CLOTHES DRYING OPERATION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR; A NOZZLE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ENCLOSURE; A FLUID CONDUIT CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR AND SAID NOZZLE MEANS; VALVE MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID FLUID CONDUIT; TIMING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID VALVE MEANS; LINKAGE MEANS RESPONSIVE TO ACTUATION OF SAID TIMING MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID VALVE MEANS; A SOURCE OF LIQUID CHEMICAL COMMUNICATING WITH SAID NOZZLE MEANS BY MEANS OF A SEPARATE CONDUIT; AND A CHECK VALVE MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID SEPARATE CONDUIT. 